CompactPCI Serial standard working group looking to extend tech into space

WAKEFIELD, Ma. PICMG officials are seeking additional companies to form a working group that will help plan and develop a Space CompactPCI Serial standard and extend the technology to space applications.

CEO of MEN Mikro Electronik GmbH, Manfred Schmitz, is organizing the sub-committee, which will focus on identifying specific application needs within the space environment. Environmental factors, fault detection, and provisions for high availability as well as the need for serial interfaces such as SpaceWire and Rapid I/O for board-to-board communication are topics that are currently identified within the working group.

“CompactPCI itself has been a trusted platform in space for several decades. This new sub-committee will identify the specific factors needed to ensure the simple and successful use of CompactPCI Serial in space applications today and into tomorrow,” says Schmitz.

The Space CompactPCI Serial working group will include companies such as Airbus Defense & Space, Thales Alenia Space, and STI Spacetech, officials say.

"The CompactPCI Serial base specification has the mechanical and conduction cooling technologies needed for space already defined and in place. Both 3U and 6U Eurocard formats are supported,” says Joe Pavlat, president of PICMG.

A typical application envisioned for Space CompactPCI Serial is the implementation of the platform and the payload controller onboard satellites, officials say.